Oscar Piastri risks seeing his Formula 1 world title hopes slip through his fingers. Since the last Mexican Grand Prix, the McLaren driver has lost the championship lead to his teammate Lando Norris, who now holds a one-point advantage. For the Australian, it’s been a difficult stretch: he hasn’t won since the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort and hasn’t been on the podium since Monza. This downturn has sparked speculation about unequal treatment within McLaren.
Oscar Piastri’s sudden drop in form
From August 31 until last weekend’s race in Mexico, Oscar Piastri’s performances have declined sharply. A string of mistakes and underwhelming results has wiped out what was once a 34-point lead over his teammate. During this period, Oscar Piastri collected only 47 points, while Norris scored 82 and Max Verstappen 116. These numbers highlight a dramatic and seemingly unstoppable shift in momentum.
The Australian’s drop in form has fueled talk of possible favoritism inside the Woking-based team, especially after the controversial decision to hand back a position to Norris during the Italian Grand Prix. The discussion reignited recently after comments from Bernie Ecclestone, who, after criticizing Ferrari’s decision to hire Lewis Hamilton and questioning Frédéric Vasseur’s leadership, turned his attention to McLaren. The former F1 boss openly cast doubt on how the British team is managing the rivalry between its two drivers.
“When the season began, I was convinced Oscar would become world champion, but something is holding him back. I don’t know what it is — maybe the team is limiting him, or maybe there are internal dynamics that favor Norris. Lando is more media-friendly; he knows how to handle the cameras, and that makes him more appealing to McLaren,” said Ecclestone.
McLaren denies any favoritism
The British team has firmly denied any accusations of bias, explaining Oscar Piastri’s dip in form as a result of struggling on circuits that are less suited to his driving style and with low-grip track conditions. Still, the perception of an internal imbalance remains, given his disappointing results over the past two months.
Adding to the tension are controversial team orders and several on-track battles between the two teammates. Former world champion Damon Hill also offered his perspective, suggesting that Oscar Piastri’s recent struggles are more psychological than technical.
Hill got straight to the point: “The only explanation is that his mental approach has changed. When he had a comfortable lead, Oscar seemed in complete control, but then he lost his way. Mark Webber used to say he hadn’t made any real mistakes, and then he hit the wall twice in Baku.”
It’s all about pressure, not favoritism
The former Williams driver added that the main issue may be the mental pressure that comes with fighting for a world championship — something that can affect even the most talented drivers. “He’s feeling the weight of the title fight now,” Hill said, adding, “That kind of pressure wears you down, even the best of them.”
With four races remaining, Oscar Piastri is still very much in contention for the 2025 F1 World Championship, but he’ll need to show resilience and mental composure to turn things around. Regaining the confidence and consistency he displayed earlier in the season will be essential to keep his title hopes alive. In terms of pure speed and consistency, the Australian has often appeared stronger than his teammate — but he must prove it again in the final races, especially with Max Verstappen closing in fast.
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